The sire of this litter is our own "Django", and the dam is "Widget". Pups with excellent temperament, trainability, and tons of personality are expected. We are hoping for some smooth-faced pups. Contact Betty (at Madcap@hughes.net) for information about the parents, and how the pups are being raised. Contact Patricia Princehouse (www.pyrs.net)
for placement information.
Stay tuned for pics and info about the babies as they grow!
My Puppy Raising Philosophy
My strategy for raising puppies is to give them the stimulation they need to develop into interactive, bold, inventive companions.
I spend a tremendous amount of time with the litter, as each pup gets individual attention and training multiple times a day, as well as group games with the entire litter. Although an enriched environment is provided, such as baby tunnels and wobble boards, etc, I am more interested in teaching the pups that interaction with humans is meaningful and fun, rather than training any particular behaviors. I find it very useful to build both food and toy drive in very young pups. While each pup is an individual and develops at a different rate, puppies are capable of learning so much while still in the litter. I think it's a mistake to wait until they're seven weeks old to start teaching them to love learning.
Weather permitting, each pup goes for an walk with a human around the farm in the morning, and the entire pack of adult dogs and pups goes for a walk together in the evening. The sights, sounds, and scents of cats, horses, and sheep, as well as differing terrain and vegetation, are the most valuable training aids I have. Letting a future performance pup learn how to deal with a hilly pasture walk is ideally suited for preparing the youngster for mental and physical challenges as he develops. I also have people of different ages handling and meeting the pups. In this case, the most important socialization tool I have is a dam of outgoing and confident temperament.
Django lounging with Breezy
Widget and the bottle lambs
Madcap
